Clyde Beasley and Social Influence :: essays research papers

Prison: A Social Nightmare Social psychology is the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another. What happens when there is only one way to do things without being teased, mimicked or ever bullied? We conform. Even though the standards are different now than is has been in the past, the theory is the same: for most people, whatever they think will make their life easiest, they will conform to. Clyde Beasley has been a very good example of conformation in his life time, even though he is a highly independent person now. He has been imprisoned twice for running a drug operation and been incarcerated a in level four maximum security prison. Only during the second sentence of over 10 years did he realize how he needed to change his life and since he has been free he has led an entirely legal life without so much as a minor traffic citation. While he was in prison however it is impossible to be yourself Even while he was still in prison Clyde began to think of ways he could become successful in a legal way. His aspirations had always been fame and wealth which was the reason he began to deal in the first place. He came up with ideas of inventions he could sell while still in prison and now runs many company's and a non-profit organization: HIPP-MO-TIZE, which is focused on youth and women. In prison no matter what your culture and style is like you are forced to conform to a race standard, if you are Asian you have to be like all the other Asians, if you are white, you are forced to associate yourself with only the other white people. This is a very extreme example of normative social influence. Normative social influence, when a person changes their actions to either be accepted or to avoid being rejected, can be seen in any culture you observe. In schools you can see otherwise intelligent kids using words and talking in ways that can be classified as absurd and brainless. They will not do homework because it is considered uncool.

What kind of relationship does God want with us

There is a great story behind creation which made man wonder who the superior being is, and from scratch it eventually evolves to a deeper relationship of mankind with God. There are series of stages wherein the people began to be aware of God’s existence and atheism or paganism gradually lost its concept because they become attractive to the doctrines of the church leaders which merely addressed human needs superior than their foe. A religious movement was started in first century by Judaism before they had favored the religion of the Roman Empire. 000 years ago in Judea, Christianity started with Jesus Christ, a Jew, together with His disciples who are faithful to him (Pierrakos, 1996). By that time, Jews hated Roman rule as it was governed by the Emperor of Rome and their beliefs are pagan and it is disturbing to Jewish life. The Jews studied the Jewish law and wait for the eventual coming of their promised Messiah and so the ministry of Jesus began. Jesus’ disciples were taught the â€Å"new covenant† wherein God will bring to humanity through Him. Mankind lost its relationship with God because of sins which is why, the new covenant comes to purpose that those who accept it will have a renewed fellowship of forgiveness and love with God. This covenant happened when Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of all humanity. Three days later rose again to become their Messiah. Since His disciples began to proclaim this gospel of hope, the Church has then been built, and the Christian faith has since spread to the world. When we take a glimpse of it, we can see that the history Christianity's origin seems improbable for people living in the 21st century to consider such events in reality took place. On the other hand, the Christian faith has been a key importance to mankind. So when the church stood up and was established, sermons had been preached by the priest where the first Roman Catholicism emerges. There has been a promise of salvation so the people started to attend the mass every Sunday and asked God for blessings and grace. Man found himself in the likeness of God. God also gave us freewill and we have the power to choose whether we want to believe him or not. What is good about God is that there are people who believe in him because he has many faces. And with this, no two people believe in exactly the same God. Every person has his or hers own individual image of God, thus, different religions arises like Protestants, Catholic, Orthodox and the like. From then on, man’s relationship to god becomes intimate and it is usually done through prayers. God as what people believes to be the creator of everything, has been the ultimate source of everything and since he sent his son, Jesus, people have faith that they will be saved when the judgment day comes. It is by faith that we can recognize and believe the death of Christ as payment for our sins. We can feel that is only by faith that we had a relationship with God; however, it will also show us that faith in God seems to deepen by showing our desire to follow His will, and try to follow the life that Christ lived while He was on earth. The development of mans relationship with God has been started several decades ago and now, we are enlighten that we should be in union with Him if we want to be saved. Numerous messengers from heaven tried to teach the world how to serve God. Relationship becomes deeper when there is a give and take bond and so, we should abide by the rules that He has given us. This relationship with Him tends to be a give and take since man received blessing from God ,hence, man should serve God not only by going to His house and praise Him or pray for selfish favors, but by doing good to our friends, neighbors, relatives and even enemies. What unites man with God is love and it allows man to find peace and harmony with every creation which was wholly developed that allows one to reach the union with God.

Kafka’s 1922

Kafka’s 1922 A Hunger Artist parabola of the condition of the artist is a story about a world-famous artist renowned for his long periods of fasting, who puts his art on display in an unspecified place and time. The main character, the hunger artist, finds himself dissatisfied even at the peak of his artistic career, frustrated by his audience’s inability to appreciate his work as a true art form, and his manager’s preoccupation with the commercial aspects of his performance.Although initially very popular with audiences everywhere, we are informed from the beginning that with the passing of time, audiences become disenchanted with the hunger artist’s circus act, resulting in a significant decrease in its popularity of. The main character, the hunger artist, is the typical protagonist of Kafka’s work: misunderstood, alienated, and victimized. In fact, this kind of character has its roots in Kafka’s real life persona. Similarly to his characte r living in a cage, Kafka always lived in small crowded housing, dealing with feelings of confinement and isolation. Also, Kafka felt unappreciated by society, which resulted in very low self-esteem and a distorted vision of self-value. This is why he requested that his unpublished work be burned upon his death.Although the story is told from the point of view of the main character, â€Å"the hunger artists†, the â€Å"record hunger artist of all time†, the narrator’s voice is abstract and does not belong to the character himself. The hunger artist’s profession was to travel the world sharing his gift with the public through performances which consisted of extended periods of time of fasting, which would last up to 40 days. This was considered a form of entertaining, which would gather large crowds of enthusiastic viewers, stunned children, skeptics irrespective of where the show took place. This is how the world-famous performer, the hunger artist, becom es a world-known figure in mass entertainment.Despite his great success, the hunger artist never feels truly appreciated or understood by his audience, who look upon his art as merely a form of entertainment.   This is why he becomes haunted by feelings of isolation and alienation; he fails to obtain recognition from his audience, and at the same time, is appreciated for all the wrong reasons. People focus their attention on his frightening physical aspect, or on making sure that he does not cheat, and feed himself during the night or when they are not paying attention. His performance is neither recognized nor appreciated as an art form, thus the artist can never be fulfilled.Nevertheless, it is crucial to notice that this state is a sine-qua-non condition of the hunger artist’s artistic demonstration. His choice to perform in a cage is relevant to understanding his feelings: isolation is, to great extent, self-imposed. The cage is the barrier the hunger artist needs to se parate himself from his audience, i.e. the masses. It is a tool of individualization, a process that every artist seeks during his lifetime, in order for his work to stand out. Kafka’s choice of the cage is not accidental; on the contrary, it is highly relevant for the entire body of his work. The â€Å"cage† of the hunger artist has two functions, i.e. a refuge from the outside world, and a barrier separating the artist from the rest of humanity, represented by his audience.To the hunger artist, no sacrifice is too big, not even having to spend most of his life inside a small cage, covered with straws. His frustration is enhanced by the public’s mistrust and suspicion, especially by the attempts of some to provide him with the opportunity to sneak food inside his cage as means of proving their own theories. The hunger artist does not even consider this option because he is faithful to his art. The suspicion of the audience symbolizes the historical mistrust of people in the purity of art, which requires a deeper understanding that the general public does not always possess.Nonetheless, the artist is dependent upon the public’s reaction, in the sense that their lack of understanding of his art is actually the element which perpetuates it. The hunger artist enters a vicious circle because of his continuous need for validation from his audience. The pain and suffering caused by the absence of this validation is precisely what generated more pain, and less understanding from his public, which in turn, give rise to more profound suffering from the artist.Days passed, and the crowds stop gathering to watch the fasting-artist. The admiration for his work is diminishing up to the point where it ceases completely, leaving the cage looking empty, and the circus overseers wondering what happened. One day, they approach the cage and start poking the straw only to discover the artist barely alive. This is the point where the perspective of the narration is broadened thanks to the dialogue between the artist and the circus overseer. The latter asks the hunger artist if he is still fasting. The artist asks the overseer to come closer and answers that his only option is to fast, that he has no other choice; that he would have eaten like his audience, and the rest of the people if he had found any food to his liking.These are the final words of the hunger artist. He dies and is buried by the circus. His cage is removed, and a young panther is placed in it, to the delight of the public. The public forgets all about the hunger artist and immediately embraces a new circus act. The act of consuming the performance of the hunger artist is characteristic to any audience: once the entertainment is over, the audience moves on the next act on display.The panther is a symbol of the lust for life. It also carries a reversed connotation than the hunger artist, in the sense that unlike the latter whose act consists of putting his sufferin g on display, the panther is admired due to its ability to inflict pain and suffering.His inability to fit in society gives birth to his art. Surprisingly, is it not his desire to be different that leads him to such an art form, but the other way around. Although the story is absurd, the sequence of events makes it believable, and serves a higher purpose: it aims to show that the motif of the hunger is, in fact, the artist’s lifelong feeling of isolation and dissatisfaction. Along with these feelings, the hunger artist also needs to maintain a feeling of superiority in relation to the masses that come to watch his performance. The best example is his willingness to feed the butchers who come to guard him during the night and to make sure he does not eat anything. He takes great pleasure in watching them gorge themselves on a large meal that he pays for, while he silently fasts.The butchers are, in fact, a double symbol: the gluttonous butchers can represent the capitalist soc iety, but also a reference to the Jewish prohibition of eating pork and their stringent method of handling and preparing meat. From his point of view, the butchers are representatives of the weak masses that lack in will and determination, whereas he represents the artist endowed with concentration and the ability to control himself. This feeling of superiority ensures that his art is not criticized by his audience since they cannot understand it. Nevertheless, this is also the reason for his eternal dissatisfaction, as his desire is to be validated as an artist, not merely an entertainer, but also to remain misunderstood so he can maintain his superiority and be exempted from criticism.This could perhaps explain why the artist, even at the peak of his success, is still â€Å"troubled in spirit†. A very important theme in the Hunger Artist is the religious one, linking Kafka’s parabola to the Biblical theme of Christ’s sufferings. The first indication of the par allel is the length of the hunger artist’s performance; we are told, from the very beginning that his impresario’s limitation of the artist’s public fasts is of 40 days, the same length of time that, according to the Bible, Jesus fasted. In fact, Jesus Christ is the portrait of suffering that the artist aspires to. Still, there is a major difference between the former and the latter: whereas Jesus Christ suffered for the sake of humanity, the hunger artist’s suffering is because of humanity. Unlike Christ, his death is useless to posterity, thus easily forgotten.The hunger artist's art form is, metaphorically speaking, his own suffering. Confined to the small space offered by the cage in which he performs, the hunger artist has complete control over his pain, which determines him to push himself more and more, reaching the very edge of human limits in his constant search for his greatest masterpiece. This endeavor will eventually bring the end of his life . Kafka uses the character of the hunger artist as an exponent of the alienated â€Å"starving artist† of the Romantics who put forward a new kind of hero in literature, more precisely the hero who escapes harsh capitalist society’s realities and focuses his energies solely on his art, usually from a dirty small room, i.e. the cage in the case of Kafka’s The Hunger Artist.In relation to the metaphor of starvation as artistic suffering, which in turn, leads to creation, the hunger artist’s performance is a display of his feeling of alienation with regards to society. He cannot adapt to the exterior world; this is why he does not eat, because he cannot find anything suitable for him. Consequently, he fasts turning his act into a more involuntary than voluntary occupation: indeed, fasting is the only thing he can do considering his circumstances, and not a decision to inflict suffering upon himself.Kafka, Franz. The Hunger Artist.   Retrieved: Apr. 30, 200 7

How to Write an Informative Essay on Redistricting

How to Write an Informative Essay on Redistricting We have previously explained some interesting facts about redistricting. We then gave you 20 topics which you can use to come up with a topic for your informative essay. Now it is time that we help you write the perfect essay by giving you some very important tips. Before we start, you should all understand that the essay should have a proper structure. According to the general format, the essay should have: introductory paragraph; first body paragraph; second body paragraph; third body paragraph; concluding paragraph. So let’s get started: Analyze the Topic.  This has to be the very first thing you do. In order to write a good essay, you need to analyze the topic itself, and create an understanding. Do not rely on the description in the bulk email, but instead make sure that you discuss the topic with your professor and see what he wants from the students. Do Research on the Topic.  Next, you need to perform an ample amount of research on the matter. The history of redistricting is a big one and there are several books available on the matter. While your teacher will give reading material before assigning a topic, that shouldn’t be your only source of information. Run Up Facts and Figures and a Whole Lot of Material.  This is a touch and go side of the essay, you don’t want your paper to turn out to be a statistical report and you don’t want it to be a conversational message either. You have to put in the right amount of relevant facts and figures that reflect the overall quality of your essay. Maintain Quality Throughout.  Often essays start off strong and become stale and mundane as they progress. Make sure your essay reflects quality of academic standards and a certain continuity and articulation. Remember, you are not going to be there when the essay is being checked, therefore no matter how well you think you know the topic, it won’t matter if it isn’t written down there in the correct way. Make It Orderly and Neat.  If your essay is all cluttered and without any paragraphs separating one topic from the next, then no matter how well it’s written, it won’t get you enough marks. So make sure the punctuation is correct, and you’ve used the appropriate words. The grammar should also be perfect, the articulation neat, and the paragraphs need to have a certain structure. Don’t Be Ambiguous.  While some say it is safe to write an ambiguous essay, it’s actually quite the opposite. Your professor will never appreciate you being ambiguous on key matters in the essay. You have to be straightforward and display command over the topic which being ambiguous doesn’t accomplish. Read the Rules.  The reason essays are given to you is to develop a certain sense of format in your thought process. You already know what you have to write about, but you can’t just write it without keeping the rules in mind. This may involve using a certain font, paper dimensions and font-size etc. Also make sure you follow the correct referencing method referred to you by your professor. So that’s it. If you have any more questions, you can always send us an email and we will try our best to get back to you as soon as we can. We wish you the best of luck for writing an informative essay about redistricting.

An Overview of Biomes and Climate

An Overview of Biomes and Climate Geography is interested in how people and cultures relate to the physical environment. The largest environment of which we are part is the biosphere. The biosphere is the part of the earths surface and its atmosphere where organisms exist. It has also been described as the life-supporting layer that surrounds the Earth. The biosphere we live in is made up of biomes. A biome is a large geographical region where certain types of plants and animals thrive. Each biome has a unique set of environmental conditions and plants and animals that have adapted to those conditions. The major land biomes have names like tropical rainforest, grasslands, desert, temperate deciduous forest, taiga (also called coniferous or boreal forest), and tundra. Climate and Biomes The differences in these biomes can be traced to differences in climate and where they are located in relation to the Equator. Global temperatures vary with the angle at which the suns rays strike the different parts of the Earths curved surface. Because the suns rays hit the Earth at different angles at different latitudes, not all places on Earth receive the same amount of sunlight. These differences in the amount of sunlight cause differences in temperature. Biomes located in the high latitudes (60Â ° to 90Â °) farthest from the Equator (taiga and tundra) receive the least amount of sunlight and have lower temperatures. Biomes located at middle latitudes (30Â ° to 60Â °) between the poles and the Equator (temperate deciduous forest, temperate grasslands, and cold deserts) receive more sunlight and have moderate temperatures. At the low latitudes (0Â ° to 23Â °) of the Tropics, the suns rays strike the Earth most directly. As a result, the biomes located there (tropical rainforest, tropical grassland, and the warm desert) receive the most sunlight and have the highest temperatures. Another notable difference between biomes is the amount of precipitation. In the low latitudes, the air is warm, due to the amount of direct sunlight, and moist, due to evaporation from warm sea waters and ocean currents. Storms produce so much rain that the tropical rain forest receives 200 inches per year, while the tundra, located at a much higher latitude, is much colder and dryer, and receives just ten inches. Soil moisture, soil nutrients, and length of growing season also affect what kinds of plants can grow in a place and what kinds of organisms the biome can sustain. Along with temperature and precipitation, these are factors that distinguish one biome from another and influence the dominant types of vegetation and animals that have adapted to a biomes unique characteristics. As a result, different biomes have different kinds and quantities of plants and animals, which scientists refer to as biodiversity. Biomes with greater kinds or quantities of plants and animals are said to have high biodiversity. Biomes like the temperate deciduous forest and grasslands have better conditions for plant growth. Ideal conditions for biodiversity include moderate to abundant precipitation, sunlight, warmth, nutrient-rich soil, and a long growing season. Because of the greater warmth, sunlight, and precipitation in the low latitudes, the tropical rainforest has greater numbers and kinds of plants and animals than any other biome. Low Biodiversity Biomes Biomes with low precipitation, extreme temperatures, short growing seasons, and poor soil have low biodiversity fewer kinds or amounts of plants and animals due to less than ideal growing conditions and harsh, extreme environments. Because desert biomes are inhospitable to most life, plant growth is slow and animal life is limited. Plants there are short and the burrowing, nocturnal animals are small in size. Of the three forest biomes, the taiga has the lowest biodiversity. Cold year-round with harsh winters, the taiga has low animal diversity. In the tundra, the growing season lasts a mere six to eight weeks, and plants there are few and small. Trees cant grow due to permafrost, where only the top few inches of the ground thaw during the short summer. The grasslands biomes are considered to have more biodiversity, but only grasses, wildflowers, and a few trees have adapted to its strong winds, seasonal droughts, and annual fires. While biomes with low biodiversity tend to be inhospitable to most life, the biome with the highest biodiversity is inhospitable to most human settlement. A particular biome and its biodiversity have both potential and limitations for human settlement and meeting human needs. Many of the important issues facing modern society are the consequences of the way humans, past and present, use and change biomes and how that has affected the biodiversity in them.

Steps for Putting Together a Great Anthology

Steps for Putting Together a Great Anthology Steps for Putting Together a Great Anthology Known as â€Å"Spunk On A Stick,† L. Diane Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation. Wolfe is the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. For more of Wolfe's tips, check out her blog.   Once the stories are edited and cover art (and full wraparound, if you’re planning on printing copies) is created, the book is formatted for print and/or eBook review copies. Once it’s formatted, the price is selected, the bar code and PNC/LCCN ordered, then the title sent to printers/distributors. Be sure it’s marked â€Å"Review Copy.†12. Review copies outReviewers are sent books or contacted as per submission guidelines. This is where the authors can really assist in supplying reviewers. A large list of potential reviewers should be created during the marketing planning phase.13. More marketingMarketing continues with social media posts - Tweets, Pinterest images, Instagram, blogging, Facebook, virtual tour stops set, live appearances set, bookstores-libraries-schools contacted, blogging, Instagram, advertising set, etc.14. Last rounds of editsTwo months before release, the last round of edits occur, catching any typos and other areas where the stories can be tightened and polished.15. Book finalizedA month before release, the finished book is created and sent to distributors and the printer. Copies are ordered for the author and the organization/publisher.16. Release day and more marketingThe big day! All of the authors should play a big part in the release announcements. It doesn’t stop there though - marketing should continue for many months to come.And that’s it. Easy? No. Simple? Yes, if you stick to the outline and plan.It’s challenging working with so many authors, but at the same time, each person brings a fresh set of marketing ideas and a different sphere of influence - not to mention a unique set of skills and abilities. So, while it’s a lot to juggle in the production phase, the marketing part should yield some great results. A win-win for everyone!Have any questions for L. Diane Wolfe? Leave any thoughts or feedback in the comments below!

Understanding Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Understanding Relationships - Essay Example It may be rather difficult, as it requires a lot of effort and understanding. But now I more deeply explored this question and may say that some years ago I had an awful lack of relationship tips to use. For instance now I understand the importance of looking into the eyes during a conversation with your partner all the time when he speaks and being sincere in own wish to understand his point of view - that is very captivating. If you do not understand something, you should not be shy to ask direct questions for clarification. You may also scroll in mind your understanding of what your beloved person tried to convey during the conversation. At least it will show that you care about good communication in your relationship, as well as that you really listen and understand his or her point of view. It does not necessary to agree with your partners point of view, but at least you should try to understand it. For me successful communication in relationships also includes expressing own feelings in a positive, constructive way. Accusations and arguments may only put the other person in the defending position. Instead, in my new relationship now I am trying to express what I feel about a particular situation and ask for my boyfriend’s opinion on how this issue can be resolved. It is important to be brief and do not wander from side to side during the discussion. For good communication it is very important to remain calm. It can be quite difficult, especially if the situation is heated up with emotions. In my previous relationship I tend to gain momentum during the conversation, and that made me more worried. It is important not to do this; otherwise the try to talk to the beloved person will fail. Finally, now I try to be sure that I have chosen the right moment to communicate with my partner about important issues, as communication in a relationship can be overshadowed by some inevitable distractions. For example it is a bad idea to